This year Jersey Canada has selected Rexlea Jerseys as one of their Constructive Breeder Award winners!
Rexlea Jerseys milk 50 cows in a tie stall barn, and have about 65 heifers running in a loose housing environment. Feed is forage based with the cows fed a TMR ration based on haylage, high moisture corn, dry corn, with a protein mix of soybean meal, corn distillers, canola and/or corn gluten, along with a mineral premix. High quality 2nd or 3rd cut baleage is fed on the side to appetite. Heifers are fed high quality baleage and dry hay which is processed through a chopper to increase feed intake and maximize bunk space. We purchase our bedding straw and shavings as needed. We farm 150 acres, and usually have corn and hay to sell depending on the weather.
Current herd rolling average is 9177 kgs at 4.9% and 3.9% with a BCA of 307-281-320 on 49 milking cows. There are currently 19 cows projected over 10,000 kgs. Current classification of cows in the herd is 8 Multiple Excellent, 7 Excellent, 27 VG and 16 GP. We have sold 12 cows in the last 6 months who are now VG or Excellent for their new owners.
The ideal jersey is GREEN! Yes green, meaning she can make money for her owners in any environment. Cows with wide muzzles and chests that can eat all day and have the strength to produce 7000- 8000 as 2yr old, 9000 as a 3 yr. old, and consistently more than 10000 kgs as mature cows testing 5.0% and 4.0% while getting back in calf AND classifying Very Good and Excellent with mammary systems that are silky textured with high and wide rear udders with deep ligaments.
As far as breeding philosophy we would say our cows need to milk as much as their type will allow them too! We select first for type, but type that can produce lots of milk! Udder height, udder width, centre ligament, udder texture, feet and legs, dairy strength in that order would determine what sires we use. A minimum of +7 for type and +8 for mammary with plus production on proven or genomic sires.
Sires that have proven successful for us in recent years are Forest Glen Avery Action, Family Hill Avery Signature , SHF Centurion Sultan , and Lencrest On Time. We are currently using a mix of high type Genomic and proven sires with All Lynns Louie Valentino, Maack Dairy Eclipes-P, Irwin ,Heartland Merchant Topeka, Rexlea Illusion and Sunset Canyon Megatron in heavy use. We continue to try and improve our udder traits in order to support our high milk production.
We have never really set big goals and continue to be amazed at what our cows do, but if we were to shoot for something then a 10,000 Kg herd average with all Very Good or Excellent cows making up the herd .
We were honoured to receive a Master Breeder in 1997 but this Constructive Breeder is special because it shows us we are keeping up and helping to make the Jersey cow, THEE choice for future dairy farmers.
Respectfully John A , Helen, Larry and Sue Sheardown
REXLEA JERSEYS Inc.